Cruise ship remains in Alaska port

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard has ordered a cruise ship to remain at port in Ketchikan until a mechanical issue is fixed.

Coast Guard spokesman Kip Wadlow says the Celebrity Cruises ship Millennium encountered problems with a propulsion unit that prompted the ship to return to port Sunday. He says the Coast Guard late Monday ordered the vessel stay put until the issue is fixed.

Wadlow says the Coast Guard wants to ensure the ship can get underway safely before the order is lifted. He says he doesn’t know when that might be.

Celebrity Cruises hasn’t returned messages seeking comment.

It’s unknown how many people are on the ship, but the Millennium can carry more than 2,100 passengers. The Ketchikan Daily News reported the ship was sidelined for three days earlier this month in Seward because of a propulsion unit problem.